Octopus changed the date of my meter readings...

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I always read my meters and submit the readings on the 1st or 2nd of the month, have done since June 2021.

Octopus then get back to me with my monthly bill/spend, which I check against my calculations- all fine so far.

August they emailed me that it is time to read my meters on 25th Aug, which I ignored as it would affect my spreadsheet. (make me think I've used loads less than last August)

I submitted readings today (1st Sept) as usual, to find they estimated my monthly bill on 31/8/22! 

Now I don't care as they can adjust it again, but what are they doing? They've always billed me straight after my reading on the 1st/2nd before.

CanNeverThinkOfAUsername

Did you have a tariff change on the 31/8/22 - 01/09/2022? This can trigger a estimated reading sometimes?

CanNeverThinkOfAUsername

Or are you on a variable direct debit as this can trigger a estimated meter reading too if none is supplied when they ask for one?

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I'm on a fixed tariff (with a fixed monthly DD) until next March.

The email did say "August's meter reading reminder", when I already submitted one on 1st August though.

The "July's meter reading reminder" came on the 2nd of July (I forgot on the 1st)

I'm not overly bothered, just wondered if their systems were breaking or they had a new "better" system in place that needs readings at the end of the month not the start.

They haven't produced the bill yet, likely they will use the actual figures, they take the money out of my credit balance anyway so it isn't going to affect anything.

I'll see if I get a reminder before 1st October

QrizB

Octopus seem to use submitted meter readings as applying to the previous day. If you submit on eg. the 10th they'll use your reading for the end of the 9th.

Is that what you're seeing? Or something else?

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QrizB said:

Octopus seem to use submitted meter readings as applying to the previous day. If you submit on eg. the 10th they'll use your reading for the end of the 9th.

Is that what you're seeing? Or something else?

Indeed you are right, the charge for electricity exactly matches my spreadsheet so it is calculated from my reading today, but I'd swear it was higher when I checked before.

The gas is 11p out, and is marked for review before finalisation- I seem to have used 25% less gas than last August though.

Next month if I remember I'll call up the balances before I add the readings.

Alnat1

If any of your gas is used for water heating that might be why you've used less. It's been quite a hot August, the incoming water temperature will have been higher, so needed less heating. Also, if gas is used for cooking, have you had more salad meals because it was hotter?

uksitebuilder

Octopus do seem to have become a little tardy as of the last few months with sending out bills after being given readings.

Had to chase them up last month and then they sent estimated even though I had given them figures.

Re-inputted the figures and got a corrected bill.

Hopefully they send August's bill out in the next day or so as I gave readings on the 30th.  Giving them some leeway due to Bank Holiday this time though

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Alnat1 said:

If any of your gas is used for water heating that might be why you've used less. It's been quite a hot August, the incoming water temperature will have been higher, so needed less heating. Also, if gas is used for cooking, have you had more salad meals because it was hotter?

Likely these are the explanation, plus I was using a hob kettle last year, then I read a frightening article about the health risks of actually using the gas cooker, and went back to expensive electricity. I was just speculating that the reason my gas requires review is that it has failed a "reasonableness" test being 25% less, whereas the electric is less than 6% (more) and it goes through without human approval.

Alnat1

Hehe, my gas always has to be "reviewed before being finalised" too. I wonder if they'll still need to check once the heating goes on?

[Deleted User]

QrizB said:

Octopus seem to use submitted meter readings as applying to the previous day. If you submit on eg. the 10th they'll use your reading for the end of the 9th.

Is that what you're seeing? Or something else?

This is exactly how Eon Next bill with me.  So at 00.05 today (1st Sep) I sent a manual meter read (as usual on the 1st of every month) and the bill I expect to receive in a day or two will have the 31 days worth of SC going from 1st - 31st August.  This has been the way of things since I joined them in October 2021.  Both Octopus and Eon Next use the same Kraken billing system.